A quick primer on lighting

light bulb drawing from clickr

It's that time of year again...time to turn the clocks back (or is it ahead?).  This  means dusk and darkness will arrive much earlier so effective interior and also exterior lighting becomes even more important.

Interior lighting

As you are probably aware, there are three major types of interior lighting necessary to properly illuminate interior spaces:  task, accent and ambient.   Task lighting is just as it sounds--lighting designed for a specific task and includes desk lamps, under counter lighting in the kitchen or office, a reading lamp etc.  Ambient lighting illuminates an overall space and includes lamps, spotlights and recessed lighting and accent lighting can brighten a dark corner or add subtle light to a space such as the powder room through the use of small lamps or plug-in night lights.  And in today's energy conscious environment, selecting the correct light bulb is a major decision that requires expert knowledge.  Fortunately, help for this can be found here.

Exterior Lighting

Exterior lighting's primary purpose is to safely illuminate walkways in the form of pathway or flood lights and to provide security in the form of doorway lights and spots that light up dark corners where danger could be lurking.

Your project's lighting requirements will be determined by size and location of the building(s), use of the area (i.e. residential, commercial) and any special accommodations that need to be addressed as in the case of nursing homes, medical centers, regional weather concerns etc.

As with all design decisions, details like custom architectural hardware or unique lighting fixtures can make or break a project.  So take the time to not only select the proper lighting but also to find fixtures that will enhance the overall design and feel of the building.

To view our collection of architectural and custom hardware, please visit us at www.martinpierce.com.